, 1887-02-24
TALE OF A TELEGRAM.

CHANGING round, she saw n young man
emerging from the shadow of one of the
great willows hat guarded the gate. As
he pulled of his hat with "A low bow, the
sunlight brought ont the FURNISHED black
of his close cut hair, and threw int
stronger relief his bronzed, handsome
face, to which a slight scar on one cheek
gave II ouch of the romantic and pict-
uresque. SO thought Maud, after her
brief, comprehensive survey
Il beg your pardon said the stranger,
tanning himself with his straw hat AS he
spoke, but can you tell me II Mr.. Esta-
brook is hereYN
OH thought Maud, one of Toms
friends" Then, aloud, 'Yes-that is, he
lives here, but he isn't at home to-day.
As the newcomer stood %irresolute,
Mrud gave him another quick look, which
summed up his whole appearance, from
his six feet of stature and the light pedes-
TRAN garb that set 1t off, 10 the knapsack
hanging over his broad shoulders. Then
she said, h~esitatingly: He may be back
tonight, perhaps. Won't you come up to
the house and rest 1t is So warml And
my mother will be glad to see any friend
OF Toms
The young man returned her inquiring
glance as he answered, also with some
hesitation: Thanks. 1t Is very warm,
GtIAullllN 4 hAlOAild " ~ l1J
my respects to-Mrs. Estabrook, II She
will permit me"
with that he put on his hat again, and
the Two walked along together under the
blossoming acacia trees, while he intro
ducei himself rs Marston Folliott, just
now pedestrianizing in that region. To
which she responded with the informa-
ton that she was ''Tom's sister"
IN this way they reached the house,
where Mrs. Estabrook was discovered In
the cool north parlor. She received her
sons friend very Hospitality, inviting him
TO await Toms return, which was ex-
pected by the next morning at latest.
Mr.. Folliott's manner was again hest
tating, as he half glanced toward Maud.
81 really ought not to take advantage"
he began.
But Mrs. Estabrook, n nervous, excit-
able woman, given to starts and broken
sentences, interrupted him; "No, no.
Pray don't say so. Really, 1t would re
licve my mind, now that my son is away;
and Of course Peter must choose this very
time Maud, Peter hasn't come back
yeti No, not II man on the place, and
this is such II solitary neighborboodl
Burglars and tramps would have us quite
at their mercy"
so the young man accepted the Urgent
invitation, and the afternoon wore away
pleasantly, with music and conversation.
and s~trolling about the grounds.
II was almost tea time. The two aides
with their guest were sitting on the breezy
piazza when a telegraph messenger came
up the steps, delivered his yellow covered
missive and was of again like a shot out
of sight.
From Tom, probably, " said Mrs. Esta-
brook NJ Folliott. you will excuse
me-
She broke open the envelope, while the
conversation between the two young PEG
pie went on. But 1t was suddenly inter
rupted by an in%articulate sound from Mrs.
Estabrook, and looking around, they saw
her white and trembling. Maud ran to
her mother and put her arm about her.
II hope you have received no bad
news'-begnn Mr.. Folliott. But as he
advanced Mrs. Estabrook waved him
back, with n poor attempt at n smile.
oh, no, not bad at all-only Il little-a
littlc-unexpected." Then she conveyed
IA silent summons To Maud's anxious eye,
adding with the same forced lightness, "if
you will excuse our leaving you alone for
n moment, Mr.. Folliott, l have n little
household matter to arrange with my
daughter. That is all, indeed. II is only
for a mo~ment-only n moment, / assure
you
As they withdrew she scdulously re
turned Mr.. Folliott's bow, all the while
preserving n set smile strangely at VA
rianc with her pale face. But no sooner
had they entered the house than IL
dropped away, as she turned to her
daughter and said, in IA hollow whisper:
Maud, that maj is a burglari'
Maud stared at this startling announce
meni What man, mammasn
THAT man out there-that Folliott. ns
he calls himself. He isn't IA friend Of
Toms. Just read this-from Amelia. -
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some fifty
miles distant This was what it con
tanned;
Have Just learned from nursemaid OF
suspicious stranger making her acquaint
nnce, Asked all about The Willows and
number of inmates. Seemed to know
something Of Tom. Tall, dark, gentle
manly looking, and has n scar on one
cheek. Look out for him.
"Ilas a scar on one cheekl'' echoed
Maud, family, after IN instant's blank
silence.
"Oh, Maud, what shall we do ," moaIsd
Mrs. ~Estabrook, sinking into a seat.
"And We have actually invited him to tea
"a burglar ! Well, for n friend, / thought
- 'N'HN - 49, f'hA VfAH
II noticed that too" answered Maud,
with bent brow, recalling u certain I'm
readiness of tone and manner which had
struck her rs strange ut the time. "Mam
ma, ~ she continued, I'VE must send Bird
get or Maggie over TO the village for
help
"\o," almost screamed Mrs. Estsbrook,
mot another person must leave the house
oh, how could Peter choose the very day
Tom was gonef When he knows how
nervous | am, too and to think | told
that-that desperate out there, that there
wasn't n man about the place Maud
Maud ! what h we do ~
II think | have u plan, mamma, 81 said
Maud, raising her head from her brown
study. Wait II moment She flew
upstairs and down again. Now come
out ON the piazza. He mustn't suspect
anything
The two ladies rejoined their unwelcomc
guest, and Mrs. Estabrook rushed into
feyerish conversation with him. But her
talk was of "A ~singularly warlike kind.
turning mainly upon revolvers and the
proficiency ttained in the use of these
deadly weapons by Bridget and Maggie,
two unsophisticated handmaidens, who in
fact would not nave known n toy pistol
from n Calling gun. Maud, In spite Of
her tension OF anxiety, grew speeches.
with laughter behind her fan, MS she lis
tened, furtively watching the strangers
face and noting his just controlled un-
easiness. Finally, like one who takes "A
resolution. he began abruptly:
II really am in n very false position
oh, ! beg your pardon, Mr.. Follioit,"
quickly i%nterposed Maud, fearing that in
his rising suspicious she would lose her
rn t..fttIlk pfanuraI snrn SER ynn xxnnII